Anita Rachvelishvili - Anita - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The fusion between the string quartet, the perfect expression of the European 'classical' tradition, and the bandoneon, the musical embodiment of Argentina, is presented here in two quite different works. The Five Tango Sensations were originally written for Lutz Mommartz's experimental film Tango durch Deutschland. In 1989, Piazzolla resurrected five of the original seven pieces in response to a commission from the Kronos Quartet, renaming them Five Tango Sensations. This work occupies a special place in the ocean of Astor Piazzolla's music for two reasons it is his only suite for bandoneon and string quartet, and it departs from the standard Piazzollian framework in both form and language. The suite Les Hommes de Piaf was originally a series of arrangements for string quartet and bandoneon based on tunes from the repertoire of Edith Piaf. But the composer's pen trumped the arranger's, imposing a texture in which the songs no longer play the leading role. Neither descriptive nor abstract, the suite Les Hommes de Piaf is merely a fantasised expression of states in which love can be by turns paradoxical, destructive, idealised, impossible or sensory, through a kaleidoscopic 'Piaf filter'.

The double bass is an instrument that can all too often be misunderstood and is often lightly dismissed due to it's impressive size it is assumed that the instrument is only capable of ponderous, heavy, grumpy sounds. The fact that there is not a grain of truth in either of these urban myths is borne out by the double bass sonatas on the present album and the soloist, Romanian double bassist Petru Iuga music is innate to this instrument that is anything but cumbersome; it is in fact capable of producing sensuous melodies, virtuoso forms of expression suit it just as well as contemplative ones do, and it's spectrum ranges from the deepest gruff growl to the brightest, most heartfelt burst of laughter. And it requires a fully trained, experienced and attentive performer to elicit all of those characteristics from the instrument. What's more, it requires a repertoire that makes demands both on the musician and the musical instrument and inspires them to give their very best - only then can those ethereal sounds be heard, even on a double bass. The Romanian double bassist Petru Iuga is one of the most successful classical musicians of his generation. During his musical training in his homeland, the 20-year-old student came to the attention of Yehudi Menuhin, who enlisted him for his International Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad (Switzerland). One can hardly imagine a more devoted champion of neglected and rarely played composers than pianist Oliver Triendl. His tireless commitment - primarily to romantic and contemporary music - is reflected in more than 100 recordings. The scope of his repertoire is surely unique, comprising some 90 piano concertos and hundreds of chamber music pieces. In many cases, he was the first to present these works on stage or to commit them to album.

Released 20 years ago, in 2004, Taima is the result of a collaboration between Inuk singer Elisapie Isaac and Abitibi-born composer Alain Auger. The duo's first and only album stands out for it's unique blend of musical styles, including alt-folk, alternative pop, rock, trip-hop and traditional Inuit music. It's title, Taima, means Inchenough is enoughInch or Inchlet's move onInch in Inuktitut, an idiom that embodies the spirit of the album. Made up of 11 songs, the record features lyrics in Inuktitut, French and English, and deals with themes such as love, solitude, reconciliation and identity. It also explores the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous people, as well as the relationship between humans and nature. Praised by critics upon it's , the album earned Taima several distinctions, including a Juno Award for Indigenous Album of the Year in 2005. Soon after, Taima went on to perform all over the world, including at the popular British music festival Glastonbury. Two decades later, the album was remastered to celebrate it's 20th anniversary, giving new life to it's moody, sensual and sometimes gritty atmospheres. Translated with DeepL. Com (free version)